RT Journal Article
SR Electronic(1)
A1 Retief, Francois
A1 Cilliers, Louise
YR 2004
T1 Malaria in Graeco-Roman times
JF Acta Classica : Proceedings of the Classical Association of South Africa,
VO 47
IS 1
SP 127
OP 137
PB Classical Association of South Africa (CASA),
SN 0065-1141,
AB Malaria is an ancient disease caused by the &lt;I&gt;Plasmodium&lt;/I&gt; organism. Evidence shows that
<I>P. falciparum&lt;/I&gt; causing malignant tertian malaria originated in Central Africa 165
million years ago and migrated towards the Mediterranean at the end of the last Ice
Age. <I>P. vivax&lt;/I&gt; and <I>P. malariae&lt;/I&gt; causing more benign malaria probably originated in
South-East Asia. In this study the occurrence of malaria in the Mediterranean region
in Classical times is studied. Although no evidence of the typical malarial fever
patterns can be found in the medical papyri of Ancient Egypt, modern DNA technology
shows evidence of malarial infection in mummies of the third millennium BC.
The writings of Hippocrates, Celsus and Galen in particular record descriptions of
periodic fevers which correspond closely to the known varieties of malaria during
Graeco-Roman times. Further evidence of malarial fevers in the literature of the period
is reviewed and it is concluded that malaria was well established as a serious disease in
the Eastern Mediterranean of the 5th century BC.,
LA English,
UL http://journals.co.za/content/classic/47/1/EJC27191